MLB Baseball

MLB Recent Player News

The Minnesota Twins signed former New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda on Wednesday to a two-year contract worth $10 million.

Analysis: Pineda was placed on the disabled list in mid-July with a right UCL injury and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on July 18. He might not be available for the 2018 season as he continues his rehab but would be ready for spring 2019.

Analysis: Smyly will spend much of that first season recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in late June, but could prove to be a bargain if he returns to pre-injury form. The lefty went 31-27 with a 3.74 ERA over five seasons with Detroit and Tampa Bay before missing all of 2017 with elbow issues while with the Mariners. His addition may be a sign the Cubs won't be re-signing former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta.

The Rockies have signed Shaw to a three-year contract, with ESPN reporting the deal to be worth around $9 million per season.

Analysis: Shaw was both durable and dependable over five seasons with the Indians, appearing in at least 70 games in each of those years, and the 56.3 percent ground ball rate he posted in 2017 should play well in Coors Field. The 30-year-old right-hander may have an opportunity to close in Colorado, as it's unclear if the Rockies will bring back free-agent Greg Holland or add another late-inning arm.

Headley appears to be on his way back to San Diego. The New York Yankees traded the third baseman along with right-hander Bryan Mitchell to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Jabari Blash, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday.

Analysis: Headley, who began his career with San Diego in 2007, was traded from the Padres to the Yankees prior to the 2014 trade deadline. The 33-year-old switch hitter batted .273 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs in 147 games last season.

A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that Neshek is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies. Neshek will get a $16.5 million, two-year contact pending a successful physical. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because there was no official announcement on the agreement.

Analysis: The 37-year-old Neshek was an All-Star last year in his first season in Philadelphia. The Phillies then traded him to playoff-contending Colorado in late July for three prospects. The side-slinging righty was a combined 5-3 with one save and a 1.59 ERA in 71 games. He had a 1.12 ERA in 43 games for the last-place Phillies.

The Cubs have agreed to a two-year deal with reliever Morrow on Sunday, according to multiple outlets.

Analysis: Morrow could be in line to be the Cubs' closer if the franchise fails to re-sign free agent Wade Davis. Morrow, 33, was 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 45 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. He gave up just one run and three hits over 8 1/3 innings as the Dodgers won the first two rounds of the National League playoffs to reach the World Series.

The New York Yankees agreed to acquire National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins in a blockbuster trade, according to multiple reports Saturday. The two teams reached terms for a deal pending final approval from the 28-year-old Stanton under the terms of his no-trade clause. The trade approval is expected to be a formality.

Analysis: Yankees infielder Starlin Castro and minor league prospects would be traded to Miami as part of the deal, according to reports.

Analysis: Fiers made 28 starts and one relief appearance for the Astros this year, going 8-10 with a 5.22 ERA. He struck out 146 in 153 1/3 innings. Fiers was not included on any of Houston's postseason rosters, and the Astros did not offer him a contract for 2018. In September, Fiers was suspended five games after throwing a fastball over the head of Angels infielder Luis Valbuena.

Analysis: A fourth-round pick by Colorado in 2004, Iannetta spent last season in Arizona, where he hit .254 with 17 homers and 43 RBIs in 89 games. He had a scary moment in May when a 93 mph pitch by a Pittsburgh reliever hit him in the face. He required several stitches to his upper lip, along with suffering fractured teeth and a broken nose.

Peralta and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1,525,000, a deal that includes a club option for 2019.

Analysis: The 28-year-old gets a $1.5 million salary next year and the chance to earn $1.25 million annually in performance bonuses. The option is for $3 million with a $25,000 buyout. If the Royals decline the option, he would be eligible for salary arbitration.

Mikolas is returning from Japan, agreeing to a $15.5 million, two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Analysis: Mikolas spent the last three seasons with the Central League's Yomiuri Giants, going 31-13 with a 2.18 ERA in 62 starts. He was 14-8 this year, setting career highs for innings (188) and strikeouts (187) while walking 23. Selected on the seventh round of the 2009 amateur draft by San Diego, he was 4-6 with a 5.32 ERA in 37 games for the Padres and Texas from 2012-14. He was 2-5 with a 6.44 ERA for the Rangers in 2014, making 10 starts.

Otero has agreed to a $2.5 million, two-year contract with Cleveland that includes a 2020 team option and could be worth $3.9 million plus bonuses over three seasons.

Analysis: The 32-year-old right-hander has been steady and dependable for manager Terry Francona since Otero was acquired from Philadelphia for $112,000 before the 2016 season. Otero went 3-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 52 games last season as Cleveland won the AL Central. Otero went 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 62 appearances in 2016, when the Indians reached the World Series.

Thornburg and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a $2.05 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration and matched his 2017 salary.

Analysis: The 29-year-old missed last season with a right shoulder impingement after the Red Sox acquired him from Milwaukee on Dec. 6. He was 14-9 with a 2.87 ERA in his five-year career with the Brewers.

Keuchel has suffered a "minor (left) foot sprain" and is in a walking boot, reportedly the result of an injury he sustained during the team's World Series title parade last month.

Analysis: TMZ Sports was first to report Keuchel's injury. The Astros confirmed the injury to the Houston Chronicle. Keuchel told TMZ he slipped during the celebration. The Chronicle reports Keuchel is expected to be ready for spring training in the middle of February.

Adams has become a free agent after the Braves declined to tender him a contract offer.

Analysis: Acquired from the Cardinals in May, Adams hit .271 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs in just 291 at-bats as a Brave while filling in capably for an injured Freddie Freeman. The 29-year-old first baseman shouldn't have much trouble finding a new team, though he may appeal more to AL clubs as a potential DH.